2025 California Council of Land Trusts Film Fest

The Second Annual California Council of Land Trusts Film Fest #CCLTFilmFest

Participating in the California Council of Land Trust’s Second Annual Film Fest #CCLTFilmFest is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your work and connect with a community passionate about conservation, preservation, and restoration. Gain exposure, engage with like-minded individuals, and attract new followers, supporters, donors, and volunteers for your Land Trust and its mission.

For Participants:

• Follow the rules, guidelines, and best practices outlined below.
• Check out these helpful tips to make the most of your participation.

For Non-Participants:

• Support CCLT Film Fest participants by liking and sharing their videos and boosting their marketing efforts.
  
• In the age of social media, our movement grows with engaging content, so let's all participate in the Second Annual CCLT Film Fest!

Key Benefits:

• Adding fuel and hope to the land conservation, restoration, and outdoor recreation movement.
• Connecting with new followers, supporters, donors, and volunteers.
• Inspiring with your Land Trust's mission through edu-taining content.
• Providing a sense of hope to people who are concerned about our environment.
• Gaining exposure and recognition within the conservation community.
• Making viewers aware of your Land Trust’s public access, youth programs, dynamic education, interpretation, and outreach programs.
• Helping you reach a diverse audience of Californians.

CCLT Film Fest’s Three Award Categories: 

1. Most Popular: This will be measured by how many engagements (likes, shares, comments) your video gets on both your platform and on CCLT’s platforms. 
2. Most Inspirational: This will be decided by three “celebrity” judges.
3. Most Entertaining: This will be decided by three “celebrity” judges.

Film Festival Judges:

• Michelle Fullner
  Social Media: @goldenstatenaturalist on Instagram
• Griff Griffith
  Social Media: @GriffWild on YouTube and Facebook
• Alex Roa
  Social Media: Topo Collective on Vimeo and LinkedIn and @topo.collective on Instagram

Film Festival Rules:

• Duration:
  • Videos must be 1-4 minutes long to be eligible.
• Orientation:
  • Videos can be filmed vertically or horizontally on your phone depending on the platform. Choose what works best for your audience!
• Hashtag:
  • You must use the designated hashtag, #CCLTFilmFest, on your entries in order to be eligible.
• Platform Compatibility:
  • Create videos for one or all of the following platforms: Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
  • No social media? Send your video to CCLT at conference@calandtrusts.org, and we'll post it for you!
• Usage Permission:
  • Grant CCLT permission to use your video for outreach, website, and social media by emailing conference@calandtrusts.org.
  • Ensure all photos, music, and video clips used in your film are appropriately licensed or permitted.
• Submission Limit:
  • Submit as many videos as you like! If you plan to send more than five, please contact us to discuss.
• Deadline:
  • We encourage videos to be posted as soon as possible. All videos must be submitted by Friday, March 14.

Special Notes:

• Acknowledge Ancestral Land:
  • If well-documented, mention the ancestral land where your work takes place. For example, "All of this awesome work to preserve nature is happening right here in Griffstown in Humboldt County, in the homeland of the Yurok people." Consider collaborating with local tribes to feature their perspectives.
• Engage with a Hook:
  • Skip introductions and start with a compelling opening to grab your audience’s attention. See the "Tell a Compelling Story" document for tips.
• Pre-existing Videos:
  • Already have a relevant video? You can submit it, provided it complies with our rules and guidelines.

Guidelines and Best Practices:

Contact Information
Karin Winters, Program Director
E-mail:  conference@calandtrusts.org
Phone: 916-497-0272 x2